Puzzle game

ABSTRACT

A puzzle game includes a Playing Grid and a plurality of Playing Pieces. The Playing Grid contains an array of Nodes, and a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors. Also included in the Playing Grid are a network of Branches interconnecting said nodes. A Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes. The object of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid without intersecting each other, the Anchors, or the edge of the Playing Grid, in such a way as to create a connected path from one Anchor to any other.

This is a continuation application Ser. No. 12/965,028 filed on Dec. 27, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The invention is directed to games, and more specifically to games of skill used by one or more players for enjoyment as well as for exercising the mind through progressive and continual challenges.

2. Description of Related Art

There exist a large variety of game categories including card games, board games, multi-player games, single-player games, arcade games, computer games, and the like. Popular game categories include puzzles and “mind-games” where the player must strategize or think through various levels of challenges that are presented. The games can be played alone or with others. In addition to enjoyment, the games develop valued attributes such as planning, critical thinking and strategic decision-making.

Some puzzles and mind-games are geared towards a novice audience, while others are directed at an expert audience. It is difficult to create a game that combines straight-forward rules with various levels of complexity that would appeal to young and old alike.

Accordingly, there is a need for puzzles and games that are fun to play and that can increase in challenge for a wide range of users.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is to provide a game that is fun to play and has straight-forward rules, while developing critical thinking attributes. Another object of the present invention is to create a puzzle game and method of playing in which the user is continually challenged using starting scenarios having different levels of complexity. Yet another object of the present invention is to create a puzzle game and method of playing that can be used and enjoyed by a wide variety of users, both in age and skill level.

In one example, the puzzle game comprises a Playing Grid and a plurality of Playing Pieces, said Playing Grid comprising an array of Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors and a network of Branches interconnecting said nodes,

wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes, and wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path.

In another example, a method for playing a puzzle game comprises the steps of providing a Playing Grid, said Playing Grid comprising an array of Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors and comprising a network of Branches interconnecting said Nodes, providing a plurality of Playing Pieces, placing a Playing Piece on the Playing Grid and creating a Contiguous Path that contains all of the said Anchors, wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes, and wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path.

In another example, a method for creating a puzzle game comprises the steps of providing a Playing Grid, said Playing Grid comprising an array of Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors and comprising a network of Branches interconnecting said Nodes, providing a plurality of Playing Pieces, wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes, and wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The followings drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, serve to explain the principles of the present invention when they are taken together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below. Moreover, the aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a Game Sheet depicting a Playing Grid comprising a rectangular array of square cell Nodes and an associated group of Playing Pieces in the form of linear strings of adjacent square cells.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the Playing Grid of FIG. 1 with five Anchor Points illustrating the concept of Path Connectors and two of the Playing Pieces forming a connected Contiguous Path.

FIG. 3 a shows a portion of the Playing Grid of FIG. 2, with a Playing Piece positioned upon the Playing Grid without forming a connected Contiguous Path.

FIG. 3 b shows a portion of the Playing Grid of FIG. 2, with a Playing Piece positioned upon the Playing Grid so as to form a connected Contiguous Path between some Anchors.

FIG. 3 c shows a portion of the Playing Grid of FIG. 2, with a Playing Piece positioned upon the Playing Grid so as to form a connected Contiguous Path between some Anchors in a way distinct from FIG. 3 b.

FIG. 4 a shows the placement of two Playing Pieces intersecting each other.

FIG. 4 b shows the placement of a Playing Piece intersecting an Anchor.

FIG. 4 c shows the placement of a Playing Piece which is not aligned with the boundaries of the Playing Grid.

FIG. 4 d shows the placement of a Playing Piece extending beyond the exterior boundaries of the Playing Grid.

FIG. 5 a shows another example of a Game Sheet containing a Playing Grid which contains circular Nodes instead of rectangular Nodes and Playing Pieces which have circular ends.

FIG. 5 b shows the Playing Grid of FIG. 5 a with a Playing Piece placed connecting some Anchors.

FIG. 6 a shows another example of a Game Sheet containing a Playing Grid which contains dots for Nodes and line segments for Branches instead of rectangular Nodes and Playing Pieces which are geometrical arrangements of the Dots.

FIG. 6 b shows the Playing Grid of FIG. 6 a with a Playing Piece placed connecting some Anchors.

FIG. 7 shows a Playing Grid containing a Barrier Node.

FIG. 8 shows a Playing Grid containing a Barrier Branch.

FIG. 9 shows a set of Playing Pieces which are not linear.

FIG. 10 a shows a variant of the Playing Grid of FIG. 1 with a hexagonal structure instead of a rectangular one.

FIG. 10 b shows a variant of the Playing Grid of FIG. 5 a with a hexagonal structure instead of a rectangular one.

FIG. 10 c shows a variant of the Playing Grid of FIG. 5 b with a hexagonal structure instead of a rectangular one.

FIG. 10 d shows a variant of the playing grid of FIG. 1 with an octagonal structure instead of a rectangular one

FIG. 10 e shows a variant of the Playing Grid of FIG. 5 a with the Nodes having no points of contact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a Game Sheet 100, a Playing Grid 200 which is represented by a rectangular array of square cell Nodes 300 printed upon the Game Sheet, wherein two or more of the Nodes are marked by indicia 301 to indicate that they are Anchors 302, and further comprises a group of three Playing Pieces PP1, PP2, PP3, wherein the Playing Pieces are graphically depicted upon the Game Sheet as linear strings of adjacent square cells. Contained in the Playing Grid 200 are a set of Branches 400, representing the boundaries between the nodes 300. Branches link two Nodes together, allowing them to form Path Connectors.

It should be appreciated, that while the Game Sheet of the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be an ordinary sheet of paper, it may also be one leaf in a pad of paper, a part of a newspaper or magazine page, a rigid board, a computer screen or any other suitable surface upon which a Playing Grid may be superimposed or otherwise graphically represented. It should also be appreciated, that although the embodiment of FIG. 1 has a Playing Grid comprising six rows and seven columns of square cell Nodes, the Playing Grid may comprise any number of rows and columns of Nodes so that the Playing Grid fills just a small portion of the Game Sheet or even the entire Game Sheet. Furthermore, while FIG. 1 shows exactly three Playing Pieces which are two, three, and four cells in length, it should be appreciated, that there may be any number of Playing Pieces and that the Playing Pieces may be of any equal or unequal lengths. Additionally, while the Playing Pieces of this embodiment of the present invention are shown as graphical representations on the surface of the Game Sheet, they may in other cases be physical items which the player may manually manipulate and place over the Playing Grid to aid in visualizing a solution to the puzzle.

The object or goal of the solitaire game of the present invention is for a Player to align the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid in such a manner as to link all of the Anchors into one connected Contiguous Path comprising the Anchors, the Playing Pieces, and Path Connectors linking the Anchors and Playing Pieces to each other, where a Path Connector is a Branch common to two Anchors, a Branch common to two Playing Pieces, or a Branch common to an Anchor and Playing Piece, and a Contiguous Path is a set of Nodes and Path Connectors which are connected to each other.

This concept is illustrated in FIG. 2 which depicts the Playing Grid and one possible placement upon the Playing Grid of two of the Playing Pieces PP2 and PP3 of FIG. 1. To further aid in the following description, FIG. 2 shows the Playing Grid with its columns labeled with the capital letters A, B, C, . . . and its rows labeled with the numerals 1, 2, 3, . . . so that the individual Nodes of the Playing Grid may be identified by their row and column labels (i.e. Node F4 refers to the square cell Node located at the intersection of column f and row 4). In the example of FIG. 2 it can be seen that Playing Piece PP2 is vertically aligned with Nodes C3, C4, and C5, and Playing Piece PP3 is horizontally aligned with Nodes D5, E5, F5, and G5.

Now, looking at the Playing Grid of FIG. 2 five Path Connectors can be seen; the first Path Connector PC1 being the common edge between the adjacent Anchors D2 and D3, the second Path Connector PC2 being the common boundary length between Anchor D3 and Playing Piece PP2, the third Path Connector PC3 being the common edge between Playing Piece PP2 and Playing Piece PP3, the fourth Path Connector PC4 being the common edge between Anchor C6 and Playing Piece PP2, and the fifth Path Connector PC5 being the common boundary length between Anchor C6 and Playing Piece PP3.

In this case it can be seen that there is a connected Contiguous Path linking the four Anchors D2, D3, C6, and G6, said path comprising five Path Connectors PC1 (linking Anchor D2 to Anchor D3, PC2 (linking Anchor D3 to Playing Piece PP2), PC3 (linking Playing Piece PP2 to Anchor C6), PC4 (linking Playing Piece PP2 to Playing Piece PP3), and PC5 (linking Playing Piece PP3 to Anchor G6).

The connected Contiguous Path shown in FIG. 2 traces along and across Anchor D2, Path Connector PC1, Anchor D3, Path Connector PC2, Playing Piece PP2, Path Connector PC3, Anchor C6, Path Connector PC4, Playing Piece PP3, Path Connector PC5, and Anchor G6. However, this path does not link to the fifth Anchor F1 shown on the Playing Grid and is therefore not a complete solution to the game.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, and 3 c, various attempts to form a complete solution to the game illustrated in FIG. 2 are shown by appropriately placing the last Playing Piece PP1 upon the Playing Grid. Specifically, it can be seen in FIG. 3 a which shows a portion of the Playing Grid of FIG. 2, that Playing Piece PP1 has been located to align vertically with Nodes E2 and E3. In this case there is still not a valid solution to the puzzle game of FIG. 2 because Anchor F1 is still not part of a connected contiguous path linked to the other four Anchor Points. The reason is that there is no common edge or boundary between the Playing Piece PP1 and the Anchor H (i.e. they only make contact or touch at a corner point CP) and therefore there is no Path Connector linking Playing Piece PP1 to Anchor G6.

In FIG. 3 b Playing Piece PH is placed horizontally in alignment with Nodes D1 and E1. In this case, Anchor F1 is now part of a connected contiguous path linked to the other four Anchor Points via the Path Connectors PC6 and PC7 as shown and the game is solved.

In FIG. 3 c there is another solution to the present game wherein Playing Piece PH has been placed horizontally to align with Nodes E2 and F2. In this case, Anchor F1 is again part of a connected contiguous path linked to the other four Anchor Points, this time via the Path Connectors PC8 and PC9 as shown and therefore another solution to this game has been found.

In general a game of the present invention may have a single unique solution or multiple solutions as shown in FIGS. 3 b and 3 c for the embodiment of FIG. 2 above.

As described, the rules of play for the solitaire game of the present invention involve strategically placing some or all of the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid so as to form a single connected contiguous path that links all of the Anchors together via Playing Pieces and Path Connectors. However, for more challenging play, in the preferred embodiments of this invention, the positioning of the Playing Pieces is generally subject to certain restrictions and limitations.

A preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces may not intersect each other. This is shown in FIG. 4 a where the Playing Pieces PP2 and PP3 invalidly intersect each other on Node E6.

Another preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces may not intersect Anchors. This is shown in FIG. 4 b where the Playing Piece PP2 invalidly intersects Node D3.

Another preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces must align with the Branches. This is shown in FIG. 4 c where the Playing Piece PP1 does not properly align with Nodes E1 and E3.

Another preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces may not intersect the edge of the Playing Grid. This is shown in FIG. 4 d where the Playing Piece PP3 invalidly intersects the edge of the Playing Grid PGE.

It will of course be appreciated that while the aforementioned restrictions on the placement of the Playing Pieces are preferred, they may, in other embodiments, be augmented with additional restrictions, relaxed, or eliminated in order to make the game more or less challenging.

In FIG. 5 a there is another embodiment of the present invention similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 except that in the Game Sheet 110 the Playing Grid 210 comprises a rectangular array of circular cells rather than square cells wherein each Node 310 is represented by a circle and the Playing Pieces PP4, PP5, and PP6 are rectangles of various lengths with semicircles at the end of each rectangle length, and are meant to represent the set of circular Nodes that would be contained in said shape. In this case, Anchors 312 are indicated by indicia 311 as usual, but the Branches 410 are the points of contact between two Nodes. For example, in FIG. 5 b it can be seen that Playing Piece PP5 has been placed on the Playing Grid of FIG. 5 a, having ends on Nodes C3 and C5. Playing Piece PP5 forms Path Connectors PC10 and PC11, creating a Contiguous Path between Anchors C6, D3, and D2.

In FIG. 6 a there is yet another embodiment of the present invention similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 except that in the Game Sheet 120 the Playing Grid 220 comprises a rectangular array of dots rather than square cells where in each Node 320 is represented by a dot and the Playing Pieces PP7, PP8, and PP9 are geometrical arrangements of varying numbers of dots. In this case, Anchors 322 are indicated by indicia 321 as usual, but the Branches 412 are the line segments joining two Nodes. For example, in FIG. 6 b Playing Piece PP8 has been placed in the Playing Grid of FIG. 6 a, having ends on Nodes C3 and C5. Playing Piece PP8 forms Path Connectors PC12 and PC13, creating a Contiguous Path between Anchors C6, D3, and D2.

Another embodiment of the invention which is shown in FIG. 7, is similar to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 except that there are one or more Nodes are marked by some new indicia 700 to indicate that they are Barrier Nodes. The object of this game is the same as in the game of FIG. 1, but in the case of this embodiment the four edges of the Barrier Nodes may not act as Path Connectors and the Playing Pieces may not overlap any Barrier Nodes.

Another embodiment of the invention which is shown in FIG. 8, is similar to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 except that there are one or more edges of the square cell Nodes that are missing or marked by yet different indicia 800 to indicate that they are Barrier Branches. The object of this game is the same as in the game of FIG. 1, but in the case of this embodiment a Barrier Branch cannot form a Path Connector and no Playing Piece may be placed across a Barrier Branch.

FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of the invention wherein the Playing Pieces are not linear sets of Nodes of different lengths but have other shapes comprising different numbers of Nodes.

In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the Playing Grid may take the form of an array of hexagonal cells as shown in FIG. 10 a, an array of circular cells arranged hexagonally as shown in FIG. 10 b, or even an array of indicia interconnected by branches arranged hexagonally as shown in FIG. 10 c. It should be appreciated that, while the Playing Grids of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 a, FIG. 6 a, FIG. 10 a, FIG. 10 b, and FIG. 10 c are the preferred varieties, the pattern and arrangement of a Playing Grid is not bounded by these examples and may take on a variety of asymmetric and other exotic forms. In FIG. 10 d, the Playing Grid does not contain a single repeating shape, but both octagonal and square cells. In FIG. 10 e, the Playing Grid resembles that of FIG. 5 a but there is no point of contact between Nodes. Here Branches are assumed to link Nodes that are horizontally and vertically adjacent. The Playing Pieces associated will also adopt the forms of these Playing Grids, and possibly others as seen in FIG. 9.

While the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood to those skilled in the art that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A method for playing a puzzle game comprising the steps of providing a game sheet having a playing grid, said playing grid comprising an array of nodes wherein a subset of said nodes are designated as anchors and comprising a network of branches interconnecting said nodes; providing a plurality of playing pieces; placing a plurality of playing pieces on the playing grid by placing each of said playing pieces over nodes of the playing grid without crossing over any anchors or other playing pieces; creating a contiguous path from a contiguous pattern of nodes that contains all of the said anchors; wherein a playing piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of nodes; wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the playing pieces upon the playing grid by laying each of said playing pieces directly over a contiguous path of nodes and branches in order to connect all of the anchors with a single connected contiguous path.
 2. The method of playing a puzzle game of claim 1, wherein the playing grid takes the form of an array of cells designating nodes, a branch is an edge common to two nodes, and the playing pieces are geometrical arrangements of one or more cells.
 3. The method of playing a puzzle game of claim 2, wherein the playing pieces are still further restricted to staying within the edges and pattern of the playing grid, so that each node contained in the playing piece is directly superimposed on a node of the playing grid.
 4. The method for playing a puzzle game of claim 1, wherein a subset of those nodes that are not anchors are further designated as barrier nodes and further wherein the playing pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such barrier nodes.
 5. The method of playing a puzzle game of claim 1, wherein a subset of branches of the playing grid are further designated as barrier branches and further wherein the playing pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such barrier branches.
 6. The method of play a puzzle game of claim 1, wherein the playing grid takes the form of an array of circular nodes, a branch is a point common to two nodes, and the playing pieces are geometrical arrangements of circular cells.
 7. The method of play a puzzle game of claim 6, wherein the playing pieces are further restricted to being superimposed over the circular nodes of the playing grid without crossing over any anchors or other playing pieces.
 8. The method of play a puzzle game of claim 7, wherein the playing pieces are still further restricted to staying within the edges and pattern of the playing grid, so that each semicircular end of each playing piece aligns with a semicircular portion of a circular node and each node contained in the playing piece is directly superimposed on a node of the playing grid.
 9. The method of playing a puzzle game of claim 8, wherein a subset of those nodes that are not anchors are further designated as barrier nodes and further wherein the playing pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such barrier nodes.
 10. The method of playing a puzzle game of claim 9, wherein a subset of branches of the playing grid are further designated as barrier branches and further wherein the playing pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such barrier branches.
 11. The method of playing a puzzle game of claim 1, wherein the playing grid takes the form of an array of indicia representing nodes, a branch is a line joining two nodes, and the playing pieces are a geometrically arranged set of said indicia.
 12. The method of playing a puzzle game of claim 11, wherein the playing pieces are further restricted to being vertically or horizontally superimposed over the nodes of the playing grid without crossing over any anchors or other playing pieces.
 13. The method of playing a puzzle game of claim 12, wherein the playing grid takes the form of an array of circular nodes, and further wherein the playing pieces are still further restricted to staying within the edges and pattern of the playing grid, so that each semicircular end of each playing piece aligns with a semicircular portion of a circular node and each node contained in the playing piece is directly superimposed on a node of the playing grid.
 14. The method of playing a puzzle game of claim 13, wherein a subset of those nodes that are not anchors are further designated as barrier nodes and further wherein the playing pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such barrier nodes.
 15. The method of playing a puzzle game of claim 14, wherein a subset of branches of the playing grid are further designated as barrier branches and further wherein the playing pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such barrier branches.
 16. The method of playing a puzzle game of claim 1, wherein the game sheet is selected from the group consisting of a sheet of paper, a part of a newspaper page, a part of a magazine page, a rigid board, and a computer screen. 